Automatic electric timing system



Dec. 4, 1951 .1. DoBsoN AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TTMTNC SYSTEM Filed Oct. 4, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Dc. 4, 1951 J. DoBsoN 2,577,408

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIMING SYSTEM Filed oct. 4, Y194s 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 INV EN TOR.

)zam @AJM By @M Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES,A PATENT remos Y OFFICE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIMING SYSTEM Joe Dobson, Talpa, Tex. Application October 4, 1948,'Serial No. 52,750 l s claims. (C1. 161418) This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to apparatus including light beam receivers orphotoelectric cells for timing racing events.

'I'he present invention is particularly adaptable for use in timing rodeo events or contests such as, for example, calf and steer roping, ag race, and any other event for time.

In timing rodeo events it has been common practice to manually start a clock or'other lsuitable timing me'ans at the beginning of the contest and to stop the clock in a similar manner upon completion thereof. For example, in calf roping a calf is allowed 4to pass out-of an animal chute, at which time the clock is startedmanually. As soon as the animal breaks, the contestant may leave the contestant chute inr pursuit thereof. Upon completion of the contest .the clock is stopped by manually operating a stopping switch. Since the contestant is given a certain penalty if he crosses the starting line prior to the animal, it has been necessary to maintain surveillance over the initial phase of the contest to determine whether theY contestant has committed a foul. It is obvious that in many instances the animal and contestant will approachA the starting line substantially at the same time,

and under such circumstances it is diiiicult, if not impossible, to determine which of the two crosses the starting line rst.- Moreover, difficulty is experienced in manually starting the clock at the exact instant the animal breaks from the chute.

Accordingly one object of the invention'is to provide apparatus which will obviate the foregoing dilculties.

Another object is to provide an apparatus `for timing racing events, which apparatus includes a clock or other timing means and a pairof cluding a clock and a pair of light beam re- 1 ceivers for automatically starting the clock upon interruption of a light beam impinging on one of the receivers and automatically stopping the 'its 2 clock at a subsequent time upon interruption'of a light beam impinging on the other receiver.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and description which follow.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing in detail the releasable starting barrier.

In accordance with the present invention, a light beam source and a rst and a second light beam receiver are positioned at a starting line. Associated with the iirst receiver is a rst electric circuit whichis responsive to interruption of a light beam between the source and the receiver for starting a suitable timing means and releasing a barrier provided adjacent to that portion of theY starting line between the source and the rst receiver. Suitable means are associated with the first circuit for manually selectively stopping the timing means. There is provided a second electric circuit associated with the second receiver and responsive to interruption of the light beam between the source and the second receiver for actuating a suitable indicating means when the last mentionedinterruption occurs prior to interruption of the light beam between the source and rst receiver. By means of the apparatus, the timing means or clock maybe automatically started at the beginning of the race and a foul indicated in the event that a body crosses that portion of the starting line between the source and first receiver prior to the crossing of the ,starting line between the source and the i'lrst receiver by another body.

Another phase of the invention involves a modification of the above apparatus. In the modied apparatus, as before, the rst electric circuit, associated with the rst receiver and responsive to interruption of a light beam between the source and rst receiver, is employed for starting the clock. In this case, however, an electric circuit is associated with the second receiver by means of which the clock is automatically stopped. It is thus seen that by means of modified apparatus the clock may be started as a body crosses the starting line and interrupts a light beam between the source and first receiver,

and may be automatically stopped at a subsequent time upon interruption by a body of the light beam between the source and the second receiver.

Referring now to the drawings, numerals i and 2 Adenoterespectively an animal and a contestant chute; each of which is provided at one end thereof with an opening through which a body passes at the beginning of the event or contest. At either end of a starting line, generally denoted by numeral 3 and established adjacent to the open ends of the chutes, there 5 are provided a pair of light beam receivers, or photoelectric cells, cells 4 and 5. Disposed along the starting line and between chutes I and 2 is light beam source, or incandescent lamp B, so constructed.v and-1 arranged as to-emitfllight l0 beams which impinge upon ce1ls1=`4 and 5. Connected to cell 4 is a conventional reverse photoelectric cell circuit, generally denoted by the ff the# completing of an electric circuit from the numeral 1. This circuit includesgtriodeaa, con-,7. po-tentalsourcethsough a suitable timing means, nected as an amplifier and having coil 9 of our 16 or clock, 31. This circuit includes terminals 2S, relay I0 provided in the plate circuit thereofffle`ads133 Y"and 3S, switch 39, clock 31, conductors Plate VOltagB iS Supplied JU0 tT.QdB=-,8 byvmllsiw Land-Al, contactsll of relay 21, and conductors of battery II. The grid I2 of triode 8 is con- 42 andGS. nected through grid resistor I3 to the moving@ Disposed-I across the open end of contestant arm of potentiometer I4;1 which is connected 20 chute 2 is a releasable barrier, generally denoted aessvabiasneibattery l5 renderne 'desa mea-n i byfammalati;@whim-:williglue; desc-:ribed;u more for adju/sting;theyfbiasing@voltagefgonqithej gri fully@hereina-iter.1v :Th barrierencludesfsolened One: Sideof polen'fiometerei 4 is connected 1ro-,the tmwhichfis connecteelffin fparallelg with zciocks cathodegof triode-j .'1;As3 shown;the--cathodei cli-aff by means of c-onductors 46 and 41. Accordingly-,.-. cell 4 is connected hrough battery; gfwhichilflf barrier44-isreleasedfsimultaneauslyefwitlrfstarzti supplies Opera-tine@voltaaegtomthe nelly toffth'e ofciockfslffff. Y f Y negative. :SideffOf'zibaiiterX 5;@ Vndzfthe: anc def-pim:4 Contactsf25 ofirelaytllcontrol-thefinitialactur-` 061154 S'direGtl'y f 0nlzleciedet0-ridi L2 ofetrigde ation of multi-contactsrelapfll.;whichfincludese-v- 8. Operating voltage maxsbefsuppliedL- toelampg, coilli52;:norm9rl1ynopencontactsr55:andfffeand 5 lfhIQilghfl-leadsfagfromzfasuitablewpowensupply 30-.v'wnormallyrj'closed zcontactsyi. -'Onekside-iof'ftheff, IlOlisShoWnzfi; potential isource-is :QOnnectedffthrough:` leads-3 3?! 1 Inpperaticmv With a lightzbeamgfromelamp. 6: contacts 32;fleadz49, contacts r25-and -conducorsgi impingingnon ,cell-x 4, :potentiometerifILeis@aden andlfto-one-side of-coi1;'52sofire1ay 4811,; justedifin-ya mannerf-suc h v:that#.theibiasapplied thejother endof which is connefted ihlQllgh Duim throueheresistor- I 3 to grida? I 2 -mzillfp'e' fsuicient A 55s button 53"; andgleadg G'and; [conductorf sto fthei f to limit the; currentgiiowe in fthe f :platea:E circuitf.: '-i other side of .the potential-source: When :Switch if. and through coil 9- belowy that necessary to'actu-L .il 39 #is 'in' positioni ,:B,-rcontacts- 32.- are lby-passedffA ateicontactsp-Il; which*eareenormallyopen:of and? the ycircuitsis completed:-through-tleadr? f relay 10g-When the animal-:leaves chutefll andm switch v39, leady 54.1arIt`is'thusseen thatfwi-tlrconff crosses V starting line 3,f'thereby interrupting:thezimiltacts-SZ closed, orwithfswitch 39fn position B, "f; beam .sof lightbetweenrlamp 6 andi.cellr'lI, there upon.v interruption; of the lightfbeam"fbetween resistancelof the celly is:increasedfresultingi. lamp B and cel1-`5 andthelresulting :closingvof'fa decrease in thefcurrent owithroughfresisto contacts-25;"'an actuating potential'v-Will'beapff' cell 4, the source of potential will be applied across coil 26, thereby energizing relay 21 to actuate contacts 30, 3l and 32. Actuaton lor" relay 21 closes contacts 3|, thereby applying the source potential through lead 33, contacts 3l, leads 34 and 35, to coil 26, and thence through push button 29 and lead 36 back to the potential source. It is thus seen that once relay 21 is actuated by momentary closing of contacts I1, actuatinggl current will continue to"flow through therelay until push button 29 is depressed.

The closing of contacts I1 will also result in I 3; finaking :the .grid;v lvoltagefless negative,v Where-:fn

pliedY to coil 52'; therebyactuating-frelayfl: ff'Actur:

byfyplatecurrentlowthroughcoil-LSwilliibeiinezailiation of relay 48" 'causes -contacts 55:toclosew' creased any: amountf :sufficient tot' actuateL-fconf Associated Withgphotoelectric cel'l5is1-a reyerseaf; photoelectricce1-l f circuit I 8,: substanritially` identhereby completing-a circuitrfromthe -source :po-1 Y ta'lio" CTCUU 7 and Comprising::correSDOndingnO Aductor 43;"v As in thefcase'of relays21; after ini# i triode I Bp relay :1ML-fY including coil 2 Ii; potenticme:

tial actuationA relay lluwill continue tofbe'fener.- .uw

gized-until :pushbutton y53 iis' depressed;y thereby: .f opening the electric circuit through 'coil'52 zfzCon'-r tactsi control the' actuation of electric `lamp .i 59,

potentiometer 22, and theanodef'is idirectl con-s55 vor other-suitable 'indicatingmeans.- LThefclosingneeteda-tothe erid ;,of triade |19:

taets 25 ofV relay-.20 aree-open; vhoweverff'zuponeif, interruption i Aof vfthe ilightbean/13` zbetweeni lampffi;T andfell: 15 by sa contestant crossing-g startingilin Summen-t to-causeeentacts :2,5 incluse.

threileh, Contacts-Iam leende-.35

totheiotherzterminals `Itis thus Seen that when eci-operating@ potenti-ale;notshewnris appliedroterminals L2B @medaille-terminals :is connected, as vvShawn of contacts 58 by actuation of coil1=52completes a circuit from the Vpotential source through leads A33-and 56,:contacts 58,*conductor S05-'lamp 59,"

and conductor-5I. Y

It is readilyrseen that with switch 39 in posi-'5' tion B and'withrelay 48 in a de-energized condition when relay-'21de actuated by interruptionY of thelight'fbeambetweenlampi` and cell 4', an operatingf'potentialf will =be applied to lclock 31y are normally clos'ed,r=1'conductor',-I4,l andl'backto 'r the potentialA source through: conductors A lili-ande i 4`I,- contacts 30"and conductors-'42 .and 43. `The i clock will-continue 'to -run.- until Vinterruption lof ,to vonesideqof ,510 the light beam betweenwlampf and-cell5g 'Whichfn Coil-ri The other-iside f :the Gillis connected through a, suitable push button 29 and leady results `:in actuationyof relay 48 -openinggcontacts 63 thereby stopping clock 31.Y

Referring; more" particularly' to Figure -2, the f releasable barrier ,-44 `V.includes A,solenoid 45, which r rupiioneoftheflieht beam?betweenlamnff andy-re is .iconnectedaasi-pointed;out hereinbeforesbrffmeans of conductors 46"and 41. across clockk 31.' Plunger 65, formed of iron or other suitablemagnetic material,v isfmounted for slidable recipro` cating movement in solenoid 45.` The plunger is 1 able means such as by screws, V,stud which` extends substantially parallel to plunger 65, and the end 0f Vwhich is Vadapted to be received in a suitable'aperture, 1| in upright post 1,2. leasably attached to stud 16 is barrier rope -or tape 13, which extends across the open end of contestant chute 2 and is secured at its other end to post 14. When solenoid 45 is energized, plunger 65 is caused to be moved into the solenoid moving stud 10 out of aperture 1|, and permitting the barrier rope 13 to be released.

When the apparatus is to be employed for timing calf and steer roping events, or other events involving an animal and a contestant, after the apparatus has been assembled as shown in the drawings, switch 39 is placed in position A. Before start of the contest or event, relays 21 and .48 will be in their normal de-energized condition, and therefore clock 31 will be without operating potential. As the animal emerges from chute I and crosses the starting line 3, the light beam between lamp 6 and cell 4'will be interrupted, thereby causing contacts I1 to close, as described hereinbefore, thus completing a circuit from the potential source through relay 21. Energizing relay 21 causes contacts 30 and 3| to close and contacts 32 to open. The closing of contacts 3| completes a circuit from the power source through relay 21, thereby maintaining relay 21 in an actuated condition until push button 29 is operated. Simultaneously therewith, clock 31 is started and barrier 44 is released by the application of an operating potential thereto from the potential source through contacts 3| and switch 39. Clock 31 will continue to run until push button 29 is manually depressed at the end of the contest.

Interruption of the light beam between lamp 6 and cell 5 as the contestant passes from chute 2 and crosses starting line 3 will cause contacts 25 to close. Since contacts 32 previously had been opened by acutation of relay 21, the clos-l ing of contacts 25 will have no effect upon relay 48. Ii", however, the contestant crosses the starting line and interrupts the light beam between lamp 6 and cell 5 prior to interruption of the light beam between lamp 6 and cell 4, contacts 32 will be closed at the time. contacts 25 are operated, whereby relay 48 will be actuated by the application thereto of an operating potential from the power source through contacts 32 and contacts 25. Actuation of relay 48 will cause contacts 55 and 58 to close, whereby lamp 59 is illuminated to indicate commission of a foul. As before, interruption of the light beam between lamp 6 and cell 4 by the animal as it 6 cell 4fas the contestant crosses the starting line, causes contacts |1 to close; resulting in the starting of clock 31 by the application thereto of an operatingpotential from the potential source v through leads 33,56 and 62, contacts 63, conductor y64, and thence back to the source through conductors 40 and 4|, contacts 36, and conductors 42 and 43. As the contestant crosses the line at the end of therace vinterrupting the light beam betweenlamp Gand cell 5, relay 48vis acfor this purpose, the barrierV maybe eliminated.'

I claim:

l. Apparatus for timing racing events which comprise a first and a second light beam receiver positioned at a starting line, light emitting means positioned so as to direct light on said light beam receivers, electric timing means, a first electric circuit connecting said rst receiver with said timing means and responsive to interruption of the light beam between said rst receiver and said light emitting means to cause said timing means to start, indicating means, and a second electric circuit connecting said second light beam receiver and said indicating means and responsive to interruption of the light beam between said second light beam receiver and said light emitting means to actuate said indicating means, said second circuit including a circuit opening element actuated by said first electric circuit upon interruption of the light beam between said rst light beam receiver and said light emitting means to open said second circuit thereby preventing actuation of said indicating means by subsequent interruption of the light beam between said second receiver and said light emitting means.

2. Apparatus for timing racing events which comprises a rst and a second light beam receiver positioned at a starting line, light emitting means positioned so as to direct light on said light beam receivers, electric timing means, a first electric circuit connecting said first receiver with said timing means and responsive to interruption of the light beam between said first receiver and said light emitting means to cause said timing means to start, circuit opening means provided in said rst electric circuit for selectively opening said rst electric circuit to stop said timing means, indicating means, and a second electric circuit connecting said second light beam receiver and said indicating means and responsive to interruption of the light beam between said second light beam receiver and said light emitting means to actuate said indicating means, said second circuit including a circuit opening element actuated by said first electric circuit upon interruption of the light beam between said iirst light beam receiver and said light emitting means to open said second circuit thereby preventing actuation of said indicating means by subsequent interruption of the light beam between said second receiver and said light emitting means.

3. Apparatus for timing racing events which compromises a first and a second light beam receiver positioned at a starting line, light emitting means positioned so as to direct light on said light beam receivers, electric timing means, a releasable starting barrier, a first electric circuit connecting said iirst receiver with said timing means and said barrier and responsive to interruption of the light beam between said first receiver and said light emitting means to cause said timing 

